Sectional vehicle-shaft



(No Model.)

W. J. POHRER. SEGTION'AL VEHIGLE SHAFTS.

No. 483,474. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. POHRER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SECTIONAL VEHICLE-SHAFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,474, datedSeptember 27, 1892. Application filed May 2, 1892- Serial No. 431,447-(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. POHRER, of the city of St. Louis andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSectional Vehicle-Shafts, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle-shafts, or, morespecifically, safety devices therefor; and it consists in the novelarrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafterdescribed, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my completeinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the shafts withparts broken away, especially designed to show the trisectionalconstruction of the device. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the linea: a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the shaft, showing themanner of se curing the sections thereof together.

The object of my invention is to improve upon a device shown anddescribed in my application filed March 28, 189:2, Serial No. 126,795.

The improvement consists in the device used to connect several sectionsof the shaft together in order that one of the rear sections can befolded over the animals back.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the shafts, which are similar inconstruction and exact duplicates of each other. The said shaft 1 iscomposed of three sections, the rear section A, the middle section B,and the front or outer section G, or, in other words, the shaft istrisectional. The rear sections A are secured the front axle of thevehicle in any well-known and desirable manner and are connectedtogether by means of a crosspiece 2 made of wood or any other suitablematerial. The middle sections 13 are secured or fastened together bymeans of a cross-piece 3 in any suitable and mechanical manner. Securedto the center of said cross-piece 3 is an elastic spring-plate 4,secured to the crosspiece 3 by means of a bolt 5, said bolt also servingto secure to the cross-piece 3 a singletree 6, which is of a usualconstruction and employed for the usualpurpose. Said springplate iisapproximately S-shaped and near its opposite end is a perforation '7,into which snugly fits a pin 8, secured in the cross-piece 2; also,mounted upon or formed with said spring-plate is a hook or eyebolt 9 forthe purpose more fully hereinafter described. Said spring-plate is heldover the pin 8 by the elasticity of the same.

Mounted on the sections A of the shafts and secured thereto by means ofpins 10 are cylindrical sleeves or collars 11. Said sleeves 11 aresecurely and substantially fastened to the sections A.

12 indicates eyes or staples which are secured to or cast integrallywith the sleeves 11, for the purpose more fully hereinafter described.

Secured to the lower surfaces of the sections B and projecting arelative distance beyond the rear ends of the same are plates 13, therear ends of which are adapted to pass through and snugly fit in theeyes 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Said plates are secured to thesections B by means of bolts 14. (See Fig. 2 for illustration.)

Secured in the ring or eyebolt 9 is a rope, wire, chain, or strap 15,which may be manipulated by the driver.

Connecting the sections 13 and G of the shafts are hinges 16, saidhinges being of any ordinary and desirable construction. Said hinges aresunk below thesurface of the shafts, so as to make a perfectly even andflush surface. On the under side of said shafts are secured means forfastening same, consisting of a hook 17, secured to one section, and aneyebolt or staple 18 in the other.

Having given a mechanical description of the construction of myinvention, as Well as briefly stated the object of my improvements, Iwill now proceed to describe the operation of same.

The shafts are made and put together as described and secured to anydesirable vehicle. The animal hitched in the shafts becomes frightenedand starts to run, so the driver to prevent the destruction of thevehicle pulls on the strap 15, thus releasing the spring-plate from itsadjustable fastening to the cross-piece 2 and allowing the sections Band O to slide out of the sleeves 11 on the sections A, thus permittingthe animal to run away and. allowing the vehicle to be stopped.

Under ordinary circumstances, when it is desired to remove the animalfrom the vehicle by the use of this device it is unnecessary to unhitchthe horse. By releasing the sections B and G from the rear sections A ina manner before described the animal is detached from the vehicle. Inorder to place the section B in a position so as not to interfere withthe animal or under any other circumstances, it is only necessary torelease the hook 17 from its fastening in the staple 1S and move in anupward position over the animals back, as shown by the dotted lines inFig. 2.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. As animprovement in sectional vehicleshafts, the combination, with rearsections, of forward members detachable therefrom and comprising eachtwo hinged sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in sectional vehicleshafts, the combination, withthe rear sections A, of forward members detachably connected therewithand comprising each two sections B and O hinged together, the sections Bbeing adapted to be folded forwardly over the sec tions 0, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM J. POHRER.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIOKS, J NO. 0. HIGDON.

